Despite Sunset Shimmer’s growing exasperation, it really was impossible not to find Twilight Sparkle’s antics to be adorable.
Adorable or not, you can’t have her.
Sunset twitched at the words of the little voice in her head. Then, she did the only thing she could do. Well, only practical thing: focus on the present.
In that present, Twilight was geeking out over the latest shipment of enchanted crystals displayed in a velvet-lined case just under the register. Ten seconds after Ruby had told them about her ‘new shipment,’ she’d been all but glued to the display case.
The smirking owner of the Crystal Emporium, Ruby Meadow, currently stood on the other side of the register. She looked to be enjoying herself immensely, but she always looked like that.
“Any one of them can hold up to a third-tier spell for a minimum of ten years.”
“That’s amazing!” Twilight gushed. Her tail was actually flicking back and forth like an excited cat! “I haven’t seen ley crystals like this since going to Advanced Thaumaturgical Geology back in school!”
“You actually took GeoTham?” Sunset rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Why does that not surprise me?”
Twilight glanced up at Sunset. She narrowed her eyes behind her thick-rimmed glasses, then blew one of her bangs out of her face. “I think they’re fascinating! Don’t you realize how critical these were to the post-Discord mages? There are legends of them growing spontaneously in ancient times!”
“It’s true!” Ruby replied with a smug glance up at Sunset. “I thought you of all ponies would know that, Sunset.”
Sunset speared Ruby Meadow with a glare. For her part, the shopkeeper didn’t look even slightly abashed. In fact, Sunset had never seen her abashed since Minuette introduced them nearly five years ago. Her brilliant red mane and perfect dark gray coat sparkled in the spotlights she’d installed to show off the new display. She still looked as svelte and stunning as the day they’d met.
Sunset just wished Ruby wasn’t so aware of just how svelte and stunning she was.
“Oh, give it a rest, Ruby.” Sunset dropped her saddlebags onto the counter, making sure to place them just right to block the light shining on the gems Twilight kept ogling. Then she slapped down the crystals requisitions form. “This is supposed to be a bookstore, not a tourist trap.”
“Well, I never.” Ruby drew herself up as if offended, though her eyes simply danced in utter delight. “I’m just providing a valuable service to my clients. As I always do.”
“Do you have the shipment or not?” Sunset demanded, shaking one of her bags with a bit of teal magic. “We’ve got places to be, Ruby.”
Ruby chuckled. “Why don’t you visit anymore, Sunset? We used to have fun!”
“Your version of fun involves too many ciders for me.” Sunset rolled her eyes, her ears flicking with annoyance. “I learned that two years ago. Pass.”
Ruby pouted a little, then her eyes slowly slid down to Twilight, still staring at the display. “What about your cute little friend? Does she enjoy good times?”
“I don’t drink,” Twilight mumbled absently as she eyeballed a ruby ley crystal.
“Leave her be, Ruby,” Sunset said, her voice low and hard.
“Well, then I have to play with you,” Ruby purred with a shrug. “What are you doing Friday night?”
“Nothing with you.” Sunset gritted her teeth. “Now, could you get the damn crystals?”
“Well, since you asked so very nicely…” Ruby laughed again, grabbed the bags in her ruby-colored magic and trotted through a door behind the counter. Sunset leaned down and signed the authorization form that would ensure the Crown reimbursed Ruby after the holidays.
“Wish she’d make her normal delivery,” Sunset muttered as she glanced around the crystalline bookstore. Being inside the shop always felt like she was inside a giant ice sculpture. There were at least a dozen ponies wandering through the shelves of books and crystal figurines. “Or that Celestia hadn’t given the whole staff the week off for Hearth’s Warming.”
Sadly, Twilight didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her griping… or anything else considering her response to Ruby’s quip. Sunset wasn’t all that surprised.
“Sunset, can we get just one?” Twilight pleaded from two inches away from the display case. “Please?”
“Why you asking me? I’m not holding your bit bag.”
“Because I… I had an idea for Moon Dancer. This will be our first…” Twilight hesitated, but she didn’t look up. Despite that, Sunset thought she caught the hint of a blush on Twilight’s cheeks. “It’s our first Hearth’s Warming as a… a… um… a couple and I want to make it special. You’re her best friend!”
Laughter rang in the depths of her mind. Sunset ignored it. “Hey, they’re your bits. I’m not going to stop you.”
“Which one would she like the best?” Twilight nibbled on one of her bangs. “I can’t decide!”
I can’t believe she’s making me help buy Moon Dancer’s Hearth’s Warming present! Seriously, this is not fair.
Still, she couldn’t just say no. She wouldn’t be much of a friend if she did that, would she?
“Her favorites are amethysts and garnets,” Sunset said, shoving back a sigh. “I’d go with garnets. The darker red would match her mane better.”
“Thanks Sunny!”
“Yeah, no problem,” she replied, forcing herself to not let her ears droop.
As if on cue, Ruby returned with Sunset’s saddlebags, now extremely full. Sunset glanced inside them and confirmed that the crystalline shards they’d ordered for the Spire were all accounted for. A quick few spells verified the authenticity of the shards. She didn’t doubt Ruby, but Raven would get annoyed if she didn’t check.
“And I believe the lady currently making out with your display case would like one of your fancy-pants garnet ley crystals,” Sunset said idly.
“Hey!” Twilight protested, finally looking up and glaring at Sunset with a tiny little pout. “I’m not making out with it!”
“Tell that to the glass.” Sunset pointed at the smudge in the shape of Twilight’s muzzle.
Twilight immediately squeaked in alarm and tried to buff away the marks with the end of her scarf. Ruby snickered and even Sunset cracked a smile as the shopkeeper put a garnet ley-crystal in a separate bag for Twilight.
“Anything else for you, girls?” Ruby asked with a coy little smile.
“I think you’ve teased us enough, Ruby,” Sunset’s ears twitched faintly. “Be nice.”
“I’m always nice!” Ruby replied as she levitated the bag over to Twilight with a wink. “Always.”
Twilight giggled and immediately brought out more than enough bits to cover her crystal. Far more. As in, half of her bitbag. Sunset barely stopped herself from groaning.
“And to prove that I’m nice, here’s your change, Twi,” Ruby said as she pushed most of the bits back.
“Ruby…” Sunset glowered at her friend.
Twilight blushed furiously and threw them back into her little bit bag. “Sorry, got excited.”
“Anypony ever tell you you’re adorable when you’re all flustered?” Ruby batted her long eyelashes at the other mare. “Oh, the things I could do with you…”
Twilight squeaked something, flushed a furious red and looked ready to teleport out.
“Okay, that’s enough!” Sunset snarled.
Her magic flared and she yanked Ruby up into the air by the tail. The shopkeeper let out a yelp before Sunset levitated her over and ensured they were eye to eye, even if Ruby’s eyes were upside down.
To Sunset’s annoyance, Ruby didn’t seem intimidated or scared in the slightest.
“Sunset!” Twilight gasped. “You can’t just levitate around shopkeepers!”
“I can when they’re messing with my friends,” Sunset growled, not taking her eyes off Ruby. “Be happy it’s me, Ruby. Moon Dancer would throw you out the window.”
“Sunset, I swear.” Ruby sighed and crossed her hooves—still very upside down. “You really need to learn to relax! You’re so high-strung lately. Have you considered yoga?”
“I’m perfectly relaxed,” Sunset said through gritted teeth. “Never been better.”
“You might want to tell that to my customers,” Ruby replied as she gestured around them.
Sunset’s gaze followed her hoof, only to see the entire shop was gawking at her.
“Sunset, please!” Twilight pleaded. “You can beat her up later!”
Ruby let out a bark of laughter. “I’d like to see her try. I didn’t spend four years in the City Guard for nothing.”
“Then why aren’t you doing something now, Ruby?” Sunset snapped.
Ruby’s tail flicked back and forth and her eyebrows danced. “Because you’re even cuter when you’re flustered.”
Sunset just gave Ruby a flat and completely uninterested look.
Ruby sighed and held ‘up’ her hooves. “You used to get a kick out of flirting with me, even before… well, nevermind. Anyway, I miss that Sunset. If it means that much to you, I’ll lay off, okay?”
“Thank you,” Sunset hissed. “I appreciate it ever so much.”
With that, Sunset teleported Ruby back behind her counter. Ruby didn’t even bat an eye.
“Next time bring Moon Dancer along,” Ruby said as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “She’s always all sorts of fun.”
Sunset rolled her eyes, snatched her saddlebags off the table and cinched them tight around her waist.
“Come on, Twi, let’s go.”
“Okay,” Twilight squeaked.
“Hurry back!” Ruby called as Sunset marched toward the door and pointedly ignored all the stares from the various customers.
That was stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. It’s just Ruby being Ruby! She flirts with everypony! That’s her thing! Three months ago, that wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest! A year and a half ago, I liked it!
Sunset grabbed her black winter coat from the rack and slipped it on. Next came her brown boots and the new dark red scarf.
It was rather awkward to get dressed to go outside when she’d already made a production out of cinching her saddlebags around her middle. She still felt everypony’s stares on her.
Twilight had an easier time. She just had a dark purple coat that paired nicely with her red scarf. And she only had the single saddlebag. Lucky her.
Thankfully, less than a minute later, Sunset heard Ruby’s familiar booming laugh. That single sound seemed to drain all the tension from the store. Noise returned just as Sunset opened the door and let Twilight walk out of The Crystal Emporium bookshop.
They made it about six steps through the light layer of powder on the sidewalk before Twilight spoke up.
“I can fight my own battles, you know.”
She’s right you know. But it’s cute you trying to play knight in shining armor, said that damn voice. Precious, even.
Sunset facehoofed and groaned. “Look, I’m sorry.” She hung her head. “I’ve known her for years and… Ruby just sometimes gets me riled up. She knows how to push my buttons and she takes great pleasure in doing so.”
Twilight seemed to consider this as they headed toward the snow-capped spires of the Castle.
“This isn’t about—”
“Nope,” Sunset said.
“You’re sure?”
“Yup!”
A deep and awkward silence stretched between the two.
“So, you think the new crystal designs might finally fix the energy flow issue we’ve had for the last month and a half?”
“Hopefully,” Sunset said. “If it doesn’t work, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“We could ask Princess Celestia,” Twilight offered.
Sunset shot her friend a look. “You never want to ask Princess Celestia for anything. You’re terrified of her.”
“I’m not terrified!” Twilight huffed, her ears flat against her head.
Sunset just cocked an eyebrow. “Look me in the eye and say that.”
“Uh… can’t,” Twilight mumbled. “My… uh… glasses are too foggy?”
Sunset tried to peer at her, but Twilight apparently caught sight of something interesting on the spires of the castle.
“So, why do you want to ask Princess Celestia?” Sunset asked, trying to sound casual and completely failing. “That is different from you.”
“I thought we got close Tuesday night,” Twilight said, brushing one of her bangs out of her face with a little touch of magic. “But… I just wish we could make it work… like the original prototype did.”
“The original prototype only worked a few times,” Sunset pointed out. “And it usually blew up shortly after. Then Moon Dancer came along and helped us fix it. Since she joined our little research project, everything’s been just fine.”
‘Just fine.’ Do yourself a favor and recheck the definitions of those words when you get a chance, Sunset.
Sunset didn’t bother replying.
They turned the corner and dodged around a couple giggling fillies scampering down the street. Twilight looked like she had something to say, but apparently thought better of it.
“Yeah… Moon Dancer’s a big help,” Twilight said with a small sigh, but her voice started to warm up as they approached the main gate to the castle. “It’s been really nice working with both of you.”
Would be nicer if they stopped getting lost in each other’s eyes, said the snarky little voice in the back of her head. It’s a little sickening, to be honest. Aren’t you glad you dodged that arrow?
Sunset growled at the evil little pest that lived in the back of her brain. How do you keep getting loose?
Her angry little pony released a great world-weary sigh. How a figment of her imagination could do that, she’d never know.
You still haven’t gotten it through your thick skull that I’m part of you, Sunset. I don’t know why we have to go through this every week. You’re never going to be rid of me. The truth is, you actually want me here.
Sunset snorted. Twilight gave her a sidelong look and Sunset quickly covered by rubbing her nose with a hoof, which only had the effect of rubbing snow across her muzzle. And that didn’t do her any favors.
Why would I want you in my head constantly attacking me?
Easy! The voice sounded so damn smug. You know you deserve me.
“So! What’s new?” Sunset shouted.
Twilight jumped and almost fell over. Sunset had to catch her in her magic before she plopped onto the slush-filled street.
“Uh…” Twilight said, staring at Sunset as she regained her footing.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Uh-huh.”
Sunset did her best to ignore the odd looks she got from bystanders and fellow shoppers. Instead, she focused on Twilight and brushing off her jacket.
“Well,” Twilight said slowly as if she were approaching a skittish animal. “I don’t suppose you’re ready to tell me how last night went?”
The voice in her head cackled.
“You don’t want to hear about that.” Sunset turned on a heel and started marching toward the Castle gates again.
“Yes, I do!” Twilight insisted. Her voice was suddenly entirely too cheerful.
Sunset gave her a sidelong glance. Twilight’s sparkling eyes were locked onto Sunset. In fact, Twilight almost seemed to be fighting back a grin of glee.
“I really do, Sunset!” Twilight insisted. “Come on, what was it like? You wouldn’t tell me this morning!”
“You’re just going to repeat it all to Moon Dancer,” Sunset groaned.
“I won’t! Promise! Filly Scouts Honor!”
“Seriously? I’m pretty sure the next part of this cliche is me checking if you were a Filly Scout.”
“Umm… briefly? They needed an accountant for a few months.”
“Of course they did.”
“Come on!” Twilight bounced along the street, obviously getting desperate. “Sunset, please! I really want to know!”
“Ugh, fine!” Sunset groaned. “It was… nice.”
“‘Nice.’” Twilight repeated. “Sunset, you never use the term ‘nice’ for anything you actually enjoyed.”
“I do too.” Sunset countered as they finally got to the gatehouse. “Occasionally.”
A single Royal Guard with long pink hair and a white coat stood there with a sergeant's insignia on her left breastplate of her golden armor. Sunset frowned, feeling as if she’d seen her before, but most guards tended to look alike, with the whole golden armor uniform thing.
The guard nodded at Sunset and Twilight and gestured for them to continue. Sunset tried to give the mare a smile, but she was pretty sure it came across as a grimace.
“Give me one example of you using the word ‘nice’ for something you liked,” Twilight said as they entered the castle grounds. Twilight stared at her expectantly, with a cocked eyebrow and something that could charitably be called a smug grin—or maybe just a hint of one. The mask didn’t fool Sunset. Twilight was nibbling on a bang again.
Still, Sunset took her time to answer. She looked over the primary castle courtyard. A circular snow-speckled cobblestone path led to the main gates. Every lamp post along the path was wrapped in dark green garlands. For a moment, Sunset’s eyes drifted to the statue in the very center of the courtyard and just like every other time, she was forced to pause.
It was of Princess Celestia, but nothing like the statues of her outside the castle gates. This one was sitting down, looking up to the sky. Crystal magic infused the marble mane, giving it the same color as Princess of the Sun. Her wings were outstretched and curved, as if she were protecting something beneath her, but there was nothing but empty grass. Even though snow had collected on the statue’s surface, Sunset couldn’t help but get a strange sense of melancholy about the statue. Sunset tracked the statue’s gaze, but only gray clouds and the occasional snowflake lay above.
Then, like every other time, Sunset shook it off. Only a few ponies, such as her friends, ever seemed to be affected by it. Sunset never had the courage to ask Princess Celestia about the statue. She suspected she never would.
“Sunset!” Twilight whined. “Come on! Tell me!”
“Why the interest, Twilight?” Sunset replied as she turned from the statue and made a beeline for the new home of the Spire Project in the western tower.
“No reason,” Twilight huffed as she hurried to keep up with Sunset. “Just curious!”
“What, are you bored or something? You’re that interested in my love life?”
Twilight sputtered a little before her eyes dropped to the snow-covered earth beneath their hooves. Even her ears twitched up and down a little.
Ruby was right. Twilight happened to be fairly cute when flustered. And it usually wasn’t too hard to get her flustered. This whole ‘teasing Sunset’ thing was new, though. Probably another bad habit picked up from Moon Dancer. That, Sunset could have done without. Especially since it tended to bring out reactions usually reserved for Moon Dancer.
Moon Dancer could take it. Twilight didn’t know how.
“Sorry,” Sunset muttered as she triggered the magical lock on the tower door.
“It’s… fine,” Twilight whispered.
It wasn’t, but Sunset opened the door anyway. It swung inward to reveal a large chamber with a beautiful crystalline tree at the very center. Sunset smiled faintly and lightly ran her magic along its glass-like leaves as she walked around it. As she did, a soft melody poured from the arcane willow, an ancient fusion of life and magic, bound up in the form of a gorgeous multifaceted tree.
Twilight smiled a little at the sound, but it lasted only a moment.
Passages led north and east from here, but Sunset ignored them, instead heading to the stairwell on the far edge of the tower with Twilight following in her wake. Silence again stretched between them as they navigated the stairwell down to the research level. They stepped around a few unicorns in white coats and headed for their own private lab.
Sunset had to trigger one more magical lock before they got inside the lab. The third version of the Spire Lab was a large round room with white tile plates festooned with wards set into the wall. Various workbenches lined the wall, in addition to three chalkboards filled with calculations Sunset had become thoroughly sick of. All of it centered around a massive table with an equally massive tarp covering a pointed construct.
Without a word to Twilight, she started to unload her saddlebags on a small table beside the Spire Platform.
“So… I’m guessing it didn’t actually go well?” Twilight asked from somewhere behind Sunset.
No, it actually went great. You just don’t deserve her. Either of them. Any of them.
Sunset sighed and rubbed her forehead. She didn’t want to deal with this today. She didn’t want to deal with this ever. But… it was the price she had to pay. She had helped this whole thing happen. She had put herself into this situation. Now, she was just trying to find a way through with her sanity intact.
Without really thinking, Sunset started sorting the crystal shards by type, shape and hue.
“Actually…” Sunset rubbed her jaw, as if she could massage the words out. “It went… okay.”
Thankfully, Twilight didn’t point out that she kept using one-word descriptions of last night’s events.
“That… actually sounds a lot more promising,” Twilight replied.
Sunset still didn’t turn to see what her friend was doing. She didn’t really want to at the moment. She focused on the shards.
“Well, it went okay after we managed to finally escape from the paparazzi and the fanfillies.”
“Yours or hers?” Twilight quipped.
“Har, har.”
Actually, the quip made Sunset feel a little better. If Twilight had used a very classic Moon Dancer-esque comment, she was feeling better.
“No, I’m serious. Three weeks ago, you were all but mobbed in the Archives by a group from GU.”
Sunset chuckled faintly, this time producing a sound with some real warmth in it. Even though the incident had totally wrecked her time in the Royal Canterlot Archives, it had been nice to know that her legacy at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns may finally have become what she wanted it to be instead of what she deserved it to be.
“Hers,” Sunset replied as she finished sorting the crystals and glanced up and studied the large tarp over the Spire platform. “Of course.”
“Well, Surprise is one of the newest Wonderbolts.” It sounded like Twilight was tapping her hoof against her chin. “It’s not too much of a shock. Um…where’d you end up going?”
“Fresh Air,” Sunset replied as she checked the wards on the Spire platform. She carefully disengaged them, one-by-one. As she did so, the glowing runic symbols in the floor around the platform faded away.
“Oooh.” Twilight clopped her hooves together. “Very nice. It’s usually pegasus-only.”
“Yeah, most restaurants built on clouds are,” Sunset said as she finished the final rune and a soft hum filled the air. “That’s what cloudwalking spells are for.”
After she was sure the wards were down, Sunset used her magic to yank the tarp away from the central platform, revealing a tower of crystal and metal about a foot and a half high. It sat low on four squat legs that currently looked like half-melted ice-cream. A series of intricate spellwork patterns made of chalk, gemdust and ley crystal spread out from the center in three expanding concentric circles.
Sunset blew a lock of her mane out of her face as she studied the Spire. The second version didn’t look much better than the prototype they’d finished six weeks ago, but Princess Celestia had told them that function was more important than form. The proof-of-concept project had succeeded—more or less—now came the next prototype.
“So, why’d it only go okay?” Twilight asked from the other side of the room, yanking Sunset back to the present.
Sunset wanted to snap at her and tell her to leave the whole thing alone, but a single look at Twilight showed she genuinely cared.
She really doesn’t realize when she’s being adorable. And it’s completely unfair. Moon Dancer was right.
“Okay, fine, you win!” Sunset said with a few wild waves of her forehooves. “It actually went pretty well.”
“Really?” Twilight’s eyes lit up. “It really went well?”
“Yes,” Sunset said begrudgingly. “I have to admit, that mare could give Minuette a run for her bits on the laughter routine.”
“That’s not too surprising!” Twilight said with a tiny giggle and an impish grin. “Her mane looks like a giant mass of blonde clouds!”
“It does not!” Sunset protested. “It’s just naturally poofy!”
“Sunset, please,” Twilight said, sounding completely earnest and honest and cheerful and… a lot of other things. “Her mane looks like she stuck her head in a cotton-candy machine.”
Sunset narrowed her eyes and Twilight quickly raised her hooves defensively.
“I’m not saying that’s bad!” Twilight assured her. “It’s just a simple visual similarity!”
It kind of does look like blonde cotton candy, supplied that evil little voice in the back of her head.
Nopony asked you!
The voice sniggered.
“If it’s any consolation, whenever she’s performing, her mane style is consistent with most of the other Wonderbolts,” Twilight added with a tinge of hope.
Sunset remembered watching the way the firefly light played across the boundless curls of the white pegasus mare’s mane last night. If she were being honest with herself, Surprise’s mane hadn’t been the thing to constantly draw her attention.
It had been her eyes.
They’d been… friendly. Not in the way Moon Dancer would probably suggest, but they held an honest openness that Sunset couldn’t help but find attractive. Sunset hadn’t expected that. Most blind dates the girls set her up with tended to get a little greedy—or a little starstruck—when they found out who Sunset was.
Since this particular evening had been arranged by Coco, Sunset had expected more. And she’d gotten more. Surprise hadn’t been like the others. Maybe it was because she had her own fame, but Sunset had a sense it was more because of just who Surprise was: a fun, caring pony who had enough talent to join the Wonderbolts without it going to her head.
Far better than you ever were. She’s more approachable, more friendly and way more than you deserve.
Sunset tried to snap something back, but her angry little pony just plowed right on.
Also, have you noticed that Twilight is finally coming out of her shell? Took her long enough. Maybe the one good thing that’s come out of you being a total idiot and not fighting for her. Moon Dancer’s done good things for her.
“Huh,” Twilight murmured. “You did actually have a good time.”
“Huh?” Sunset blinked a few times and looked up to stare at Twilight, who seemed to be fighting off a grin.
“You just spaced out for a good minute and a half!” Twilight bounced up and down on her hooves in a manner far too similar to Minuette. “You even had a little smile on your face!”
“I did have a good time,” Sunset admitted.
But it doesn’t mean I’m going to tell you all about it! Sunset thought at her gleeful friend.
“But I should be asking you!” Sunset continued, eager to change the topic. “After all, didn’t you take Moon Dancer to meet your family last night?”
Twilight suddenly lit up like she was a pony-shaped Hearth’s Warming Tree. “Yes! I was so happy she could visit before she left for Baltimare! Even better, you’ll never guess who managed to make it!”
Oh, I can guess, Sunset thought before her angry little pony could make a snide remark. Maybe that topic change wasn’t such a good idea...
“Cadance was there! With Shining Armor! You know, he’s up for a promotion already? He’ll be a full major by the end of March!”
“Good for him,” Sunset replied as she levitated over the first batch of crystalline shards.
She even managed to mean it a little. Her few interactions with Shining Armor had been nothing but friendly. According to her friends inside the Guard, some of the upper brass were already eyeing the stallion for things past major.
Sunset kept her thoughts about Cadance to herself.
“You know…” Twilight peered at her over her glasses as she levitated out a spellbook. “I don’t think you’ve ever told me what your issue with Princess Cadance is.”
Sunset managed—through no small force of will—to not grit her teeth at the word ‘Princess.’ However, she sadly failed to suppress the involuntary twitch.
She hoped Twilight hadn’t been paying close enough attention to see it. It was a stupid hope.
“It’s a very long story,” Sunset said. “And I’d really like to not go into it? Just like all the other times?”
Twilight hesitated and nibbled on a bang for a moment or two. Then she finally sighed and hung her head. “One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me. After all, she lives here in Canterlot Castle. I don’t know how you can avoid her.”
Yeah, if you could avoid her it would be easier. The problem is that you normally can’t. But you don’t want to tell sweet little innocent Twilight about all that, do you? About how she took everything you wanted? Every dream you ever had she managed to get through blind luck? That—
“It’s complicated.”
“You always say that.”
Something in Twilight’s tone needled her in just the wrong way. “If you’re so determined, why don’t you ask her?”
“I… I did,” Twilight murmured.
Sunset suddenly went cold.
“And… well—”
A quick knock on the door saved Sunset from what was bound to be a horrible, horrible fate.
Before Twilight could continue, Sunset yanked open the door in her magic… and immediately wished she hadn’t. Dealing with whatever Twilight had found out about Sunset and Cadance would have been easier.
A golden unicorn with bright green eyes, a smattering of freckles and mane the color of autumn leaves stood there.
Oh come on! Sunset facehoofed. You’ve got to be kidding me!
The mare’s Sun House Guard armor gleamed despite the lab’s low lighting. The Solar Sigil—the classic stylized symbol of the Princess of the Sun—shone proudly on the brace that connected the two front halves of her armor. Two smaller suns were engraved beneath the Sigil. A single gold bar glittered at her collar.
What’s worse, her eyes glittered in that special way she had when she intended to annoy Sunset the most.
Somepony’s in a good mood, Sunset thought with a sigh. Means she’ll be even worse, probably.
The mare cocked an eyebrow—looking like the perfect image of a Sun House Guard—at least until she smirked.
Nopony—not even Sunset herself—could smirk quite like Sunny Day.
“Hey Sunshine,” the mare said with far too much cheer. “You two having fun down here?”
“Huh?” Twilight asked, glancing between Sunset and the newcomer. “I’m sorry… do I know you?”
“Oh, you’ve seen me around,” Sunny replied with a wave of her hoof. “I think this is the first time we’ve actually chatted, though!”
“I’m sorry,” Twilight said—which was just like her, too. “I didn’t mean to ignore you… but there are so many guards and—”
Sunny glanced over Sunset and grinned. “She always like this, Sunshine?”
“Yeah, usually,” Sunset replied, forcing herself to keep her tone even. “What are you doing—”
“What? You’re not going to introduce us?”
Sunny pouted. She looked absurd. The worst part was that she knew it. And somehow, that made it vaguely cute. But only vaguely.
Sunset managed to keep her growl internal, all while her angry little pony howled with laughter.
Oh, I love what this mare does to you, it whispered. One day, you’re totally going to crack because of her.
“Twilight Sparkle, this is Second Lieutenant Sunny Day.” Sunset said, emphasizing the rank with a bit more force than was strictly needed. “Lieutenant Day here is the Sun House Guard’s resident battlemage.”
“Battlemage? That makes no sense,” Twilight scratched her head, looking over Sunny Day with a quick tweak of her glasses. “There have been no battlemages in the last two-hundred-and-thirty-two years.”
“I’m special,” Sunny beamed at Twilight and wiggled her eyebrows. “Very special. Wanna see how special?”
Twilight instantly blushed and sputtered a bit, looking anywhere but at Sunny or Sunset.
Sunset fixed Sunny with a glare, but stopped herself when she saw the look in the guard’s eyes. She actually looked—Sunset couldn’t believe it—Sunny Day looked a little ashamed.
“I apologize,” Sunny said, her voice suddenly going formal. “That was out of line.”
“It’s… um… it’s okay.” Twilight mumbled as she fiddled with a few stray crystal shards.
Sunny wouldn’t meet Sunset’s eyes either.
Dammit, does the whole castle know about this mess between Moon Dancer, Twi and me? Sunset wanted to scream. She kept the scream inside.
“So, uh… speaking of topic changes, hey Sunshine, I’ve got a letter for you!”
“Why you running mail, Day?” Sunset asked. She narrowed her eyes. “You’re Sun Guard, not Royal Mail.”
“Oh, just a favor, Sunshine!” Lieutenant Day shrugged, but Sunset knew better. She almost laughed at Day’s poor excuse to just give her a hard time.
“Wait…” Twilight asked, her natural curiosity overriding her embarrassment. “Why do you keep calling her Sunshine?’”
“I’m not big on formal names, even though I have to use them pretty much all the time.” Sunny shrugged and used her magic to fish around in her saddlebags. A few seconds later, she pulled an Equestrian Royal Mail packet and levitated it over to Sunset. “But since everypony calls Sunset here ‘Sunny’…”
“Ah,” Twilight nodded, though she still wasn’t looking the mare in the eye. “I can see how that might be a little strange.”
“Tell me about it,” Sunny Day replied with a roll of her eyes. “You don’t want to know how much of a pain it was going to GU with Little Miss Perfect.”
“Don’t start with me, Day,” Sunset snapped as she broke the seal on the packet. “We both know you gave as good as you got.”
“Eh, that’s true,” the mare shrugged. “Anyway, eventually, I landed on Sunshine. Mostly because it annoyed her.”
Sunset snorted as she opened the packet. Inside were a bunch of forms. She flipped through them, but they didn’t make sense. Insurance paperwork? Who would be sending her insurance paperwork just before Hearth’s Warming Eve?
“Fun times… ah… hey Sunshine, do you remember when—”
“I’m not playing the ‘do you remember game’ with you, Day,” Sunset muttered, frowning. “Especially not today.”
Finally, Sunset looked Lieutenant Day straight in the eye. Sunset might think Sunny Day was a screwball who had gotten way too comfortable in her position as a member of Princess Celestia’s personal guard, but she was a decent pony. She at least knew how to read social cues. What tended to irk Sunset was Sunny’s incredible gift for ignoring them entirely. Thankfully, she didn’t do that this time.
Sunny bit her lip and then gave Twilight a stiff nod. In a semi-exaggerated formal voice, she intoned, “Miss Sparkle, I hope you have a lovely Hearth’s Warming.”
“Uh…” Twilight blinked a few times. “Thanks? You too?”
The formality vanished as Sunny beamed at her. “Thanks! Same goes to you, Sunshine!”
“Bye, Day,” Sunset muttered as she finally found something in the packet that appeared to be a letter. “Have fun playing with Dolly.”
“Oh, trust me,” the mare replied, “I will!”
Sunset looked up just in time to see Sunny Day prance out of the doorway. Sunset rolled her eyes and closed the doors with a brief bit of magic.
“So… uh…” Twilight began. “What’s the story there?”
“She was in the same year as me…” Sunset muttered distractedly as she read over a report about an airship getting caught in a runaway Everfree storm. “She even got some special training from the Princess. Mostly about how to harness her magic.”
“What kind of magic does she have?”
“Fire magic. Intense fire magic,” Sunset said as she flipped the page over. “She had to practice in a special room and everything. Too expensive to keep fixing the burn marks in the other practice halls.”
“Wow… she’s… she’s that powerful?” Twilight seemed a little in awe, but that only faintly annoyed Sunset as she continued to read the report.
Sunset had a bad feeling about this thing.
“Yeah, she’s only other unicorn I know who can actually cast true sunfire, though she can’t do it very easily,” Sunset allowed a small bit of smugness come into her voice. “For me though…”
Ice trickled through Sunset’s veins as she read the final lines of the report.
“‘For you though’ what?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, Harmony…” Sunset groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Sunset?” Twilight trotted over, sounding concerned. “Are you okay?”
“Oh I’m just fantastic!” Sunset shouted as she slammed the reports down on the test table. “Fan-freaking-tastic! Six months! Six months! And now, the day before Hearth’s Warming Eve...”
Sunset pounded her hooves against the ground in fury. She couldn’t believe this! Frustration crackled from her horn in the form of errant arcs of magic. One or two struck a few of the crystals before she managed to rein it in, but she just pounded her hooves down again anyway.
“Uh…”
Sunset stopped and forced herself to look at Twilight and instantly her ears folded down. Twilight stood on the other side of the table, cringing away from her.
Nice. Real nice. Real smooth, there, Sunset! Enjoy your little temper tantrum?
“I’m sorry,” Sunset muttered. She’d felt like she’d been apologizing a lot lately. “Ugh, this is…” She sighed and ran her hooves through her mane. “Just the last thing I want to deal with right now!”
She kicked one of the table legs. It hurt. A lot.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Twilight hazarded, trying to peek at the papers from the other side of the table.
Sunset sighed and threw over a single picture with a large broken crate on it.
“It was my Hearth’s Warming Gift for Princess Celestia,” Sunset muttered. “Shipped all the way from Griffonstone. A ceremonial tea set… an exact replica of the one King Grover used during the Treaty of Beak, the one where Celestia herself acted as arbiter. Actually, that was how she met Philomena…”
Twilight’s eyes lit up like twin moons. “Really?”
“The tea set was talon-crafted by Master Grace,” Sunset continued as she stared at check in her name. “Griffonstone’s greatest sculptor.”
Twilight’s eyes went a little wider. Actual stars appeared there, now. “Sunset, that must have cost a fortune!”
“The Griffon Ambassador owed me a favor,” Sunset muttered as she poked at the insurance check. “I helped tutor his daughter on pegasi magic techniques. Specifically—and ironically—weather manipulation.”
Sunset ground her teeth together. She was a bit surprised she didn’t spit sparks.
“You’re… you’re friends with the Griffon Ambassador’s daughter?”
Sunset slumped to the ground and banged her head on the table surface a few times. It didn’t help much.
“Friends is too strong a word,” Sunset muttered. “I know Greta casually. That’s it.”
“Can… can you introduce me? I’ve never met a griffon before!”
Sunset blinked a few times then looked up at Twilight. “We had griffon teachers at GU, Twilight. Didn’t Professor Gisela usually teach the first-years? History of Canterlot?”
“Oh!” Twilight mumbled, suddenly looking down and nibbling on a bit of her mane. “Right. Uh… I ended up skipping that class when I came in. I tested out of it.”
“Of course you did.” Sunset slumped back to the table. “Little showoff.”
“Hey!” Twilight protested. “I am—”
Sunset coughed.
“Okay, fine…” Twilight admitted. “Occasionally. But, I’m not as bad as you!”
Part of her wanted to argue since a good argument might distract her, but she shoved that part aside.
“Point taken,” Sunset conceded.
“So… uh… what are you going to do?”
“I have no idea,” Sunset groaned. “Stupid Everfree weather. I am completely and totally screwed.”
Sunset flopped her head on the table and groaned.
“Well… what about a replacement?” Twilight said hesitantly. “Maybe… um… a book? You could always get her a nice book.”
Sunset banged her head on the table three more times. “Why am I not surprised the first idea you come up with for a replacement for a priceless tea set is a book?”
“Hey!” Twilight snapped. “Books are fantastic.”
Sunset just groaned and glared at the stupid little packet of misery.
“Okay, fine, how about something more topical?” Twilight suggested. “Maybe… a book on tea?”
Something jingled in the back of Sunset’s memory, but it was faint. Still, her ears perked. “Wait a minute. Say that again.”
“A book on tea?” Twilight repeated. “I mean, we both know that the Princess loves tea… so something along those lines?”
Griffonstone and tea…
Sunset thought back to the story about the Treaty of Beak. It had been months since she heard the story, but she remembered that the tea set hadn’t been the only special thing about that treaty. It had been…
“That’s it!” Sunset’s head darted up. “Teahouses of Saddle Arabia!”
“Wha—”
“At the signing ceremony, they didn’t have any griffish tea available!” Sunset leapt to her hooves and started pacing back and forth. “Everything on claw had been destroyed in one of the last dragon raids! But a small Saddle Arabian trade caravan happened to be in Griffonstone at the time! Celestia’s aide bought some and that’s what they drank after the signing of the treaty!”
“Dragons drink tea? How would that eve—”
“Not only that!” Sunset bounced on her hooves, her brain galloping faster than her mouth could go. “But, the Princess told me about an ancient book she had—a first edition—that had the exact methods for mixing and brewing every kind of Saddle Arabian tea, including that very blend!”
“But Sunset—”
“And she lost the book!” Sunset crowed. She jumped into the air and spun with glee. “She loaned it out to an old friend and they vanished! She talked about that book with such nostalgia, like it was a link to a past she couldn’t get back!”
Sunset nearly jumped over the entire table—Spire and all—and landed in front of Twilight. “Twilight, you’re a genius!”
Twilight’s ears went back and she blushed furiously. “Oh… um… thanks?”
“Now, we’re not going to find a first edition in any of the normal bookstores in the city,” Sunset muttered as she rubbed her chin, her mind racing from a combination of desperation and a need to think about anything other than drama-drenched relationships. “But there are dozens of used and speciality book stories in Canterlot! One of them is bound to have a first edition! Tea is always in fashion in Canterlot because high society copies everything the Princess does.”
“Wouldn’t that be in like a private collection?” Twilight said quickly, as if to shove the words ahead of Sunset’s next ramble.
“No, that’s just it!” Sunset shook her head. “While everything tea-related is popular, most ponies in Canterlot don’t like eastern teas! And with a title like Teahouses of Saddle Arabia, most ponies would think of it as some sort of tour guide instead of a brewing guide! It’s perfect!”
Sunset’s heart thrummed in her chest. While the claw-carved ceremonial tea set would have been amazing, replacing a lost heirloom would be even better! And who better to help her in a quest to find a lost book than the greatest Archivist the RCA had ever seen?
You’re an idiot, snapped a little voice of gloom. You really think she wants to wander around a bunch of old bookstores with you? Sounds like a date to me!
Sunset forced her face to remain excited, though inside she just snarled back at that stupid voice, This isn’t a date! This is two friends going out to find a Hearth’s Warming Day gift. Nothing more!
Uh-huh. Her angry little pony didn’t seem too convinced.
They’ve been together for like two months now, Sunset insisted. I’ve never seen Moon Dancer this happy. And Twilight seems to be having the time of her life. And I’m not letting you ruin that!
Me? The voice almost sounded offended. Why would I need to ruin that when you’re doing such a great job?
I am Twilight’s friendship teacher, for pony’s sake! And Moon Dancer is my best friend! Nothing is wrong with this!
Wow, don’t you sound sure of yourself? The voice just laughed. Prove it. Spend the rest of the evening with Twilight. Show everypony just how good you are!
As the last few words echoed in Sunset’s head, she could see Twilight becoming more and more excited about the prospect by the second. Then she realized her mistake.
Why in Tartarus would I ever do anything you suggested? Sunset thought.
How about because I’m actually right? You’ve seen the way Celestia’s been looking at you. Plus your friends. Everypony knows about your bleeding heart! Especially Moon Dancer and Twilight. Why not prove to them that you can handle this? Prove that you can be ‘just friends’ with Twilight.
Sunset forced herself to stop engaging with the evil little piece of her that lived in her head. She knew she didn’t need to prove anything to her friends or Celestia.
But… if she were to be perfectly honest with herself… maybe she needed to prove it to herself.
Sunset closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, the only external sign of the war raging inside her head.
I am so going to regret this…
Of course you are! the voice cackled. Because you are going to fail so miserably, it’ll be hysterical.
I really hate you.
Sunset had an image of… herself… blowing a kiss.
Well, that’s super creepy.
She could somehow feel the smirk.
“So… uh… there’s a catch,” Sunset said, rubbing her hooves together and biting her lip.
Twilight’s enormous eyes turned in her direction. This time, they were magnified by her glasses.
Twilight, seriously. That should be illegal.
“I… know a few used book stores, but your special talent is books,” Sunset said, tapping her hooves together. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to find this book on my own. At least not in time. Hearth’s Warming Eve is tomorrow.”
“You… you can’t be.” Twilight’s ears shot straight up. She almost vibrated with… something. “You can’t be asking… what I think you’re asking…”
“Moon Dancer won’t be back from Baltimare until tomorrow afternoon,” Sunset continued. “And with all the stores closing at noon tomorrow, I’m hoping with your help… maybe we can get this done?”
“I…” Twilight blushed and nibbled on a bang. “I don’t know… the sun’s already going down. It’s kind of late.”
Sunset cocked an eyebrow at a clock on the wall and then kept the eyebrow cocked for Twilight.
“I may not go to a ton of used bookstores, but we both know used bookstores are run by crazy ponies who keep their places open throughout the night. Especially the ones in this city.”
“That’s not entirely true!” Twilight protested, sitting up a little straighter. “There are plenty of respectable booksellers who keep normal hours.”
“Name one.”
“Uh…” Twilight fumbled, her eyes rolling in her head as she apparently searched for memory for a name. “Regular Hours?”
“Regular Hours,” Sunset said in a flat deadpan.
“Yup! Regular Hours.”
“You just made that one up, didn’t you?” Sunset raised an eyebrow.
Twilight winced. “Maybe?”
“Twi, I need your help. Please. I’ll tell you what… if we can’t find something by midnight, we can call it off. I’ll ask Moon Dancer tomorrow. Maybe she has a connection or something… but… even then, like I said, most shops close at noon on Hearth’s Warming Eve! Please!”
“Sunset… are you sure?” Twilight rubbed a forehoof against another, looking up at the taller mare. “I know… look, I’ve noticed… you haven’t been all that… er… that is to say—”
“Twilight.” Sunset interrupted with a smile that wasn’t entirely forced. She sat down and put her front hooves on her friend’s shoulders. “Let’s just get this out of the way. No matter what, Moon Dancer is still my best friend. And you’re still my newest friend, one that I actually enjoy spending time with.”
“Really?” Twilight’s eyes were now almost impossibly wide behind her glasses. “You really mean that?”
“Yes,” Sunset said, ignoring the snickering in the back of her head. “And don’t get me wrong… I know that a piece of you is dying to go book hunting.”
Twilight’s hesitation finally cracked beneath the weight of her eagerness and her eyes lit up brighter than ever before.
Twilight finally nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“That’s the spirit!”
“Yeah…” Twilight didn’t stop nodding. Sparks flashed behind her eyes as a somewhat unnerving grin grew on her muzzle. “In fact, I already know a few places where we can start! This… this’ll be fun! I’ve researched a lot of these places, but it’s usually members of the Acquisitions teams who get to actually go on adventures and find these books! I haven’t ever been on a Retrieval Mission before!”
“A Retrieval Mission?” Sunset repeated. “What are—”
“Oh yeah!” Twilight’s grin quickly approached manic. “The Acquisitions Team are the best of the best! They’re the ones who go to lost cities and ancient temples to find forgotten treasures for the RCA! In fact, I heard that the Equestrian Diplomatic Corps gives them special permits to pass through any border beyond Equestria with nearly every race! Except dragons. They can be a prickly lot. But that’s okay! We’re not going to need to go to the end of the world! We’re just going down the street! But even that should be amazing! Some of the stories I’ve heard… I can’t begin to tell you!”
Sunset licked her lips, opened her mouth to speak, but Twilight didn’t give her a chance.
“First, of course, there’s the legend of the Scepter of Scrolls! Everypony in Acquisitions is convinced that Ink Method smuggled it out of the RCA to famed ex-explorer Lost Page for some ancient secret! I’ve been to her shop, but it would be amazing if we managed to find it, right? And that’s just the start! I mean, I’ve heard of a shop that sells actual enchanted books! Ones that suck you into the story itself! There’s one that contains powerful grimoires locked down by ancient runes carved into chains built by Starswirl himself! Acquisitions is always after that shop, but it keeps moving! There’s also this one that you can apparently only get to by passing into the fabled depths of leyspace, but I doubt we’ll be able to find that. I mean….” Twilight snorted. “I’m pretty sure only Lead Archivists have those kinds of privileges, assuming leyspace is even real… though if we find one with an orangutan, we’ll need to take down his personal information so that we can contact him later! Ink Method ran into his shop as a colt—at least I think it was a shop, he doesn’t talk about it a lot—and has been searching for it ever since—”
“What’s an orangutan?” Sunset said, trying to swim her way to the surface in the sea of excitement and exposition pouring from Twilight.
“I have no idea!” Twilight squealed. “But we’re going to find out! Now! Let’s go find you that book!”
Before Sunset could say another word, Twilight’s magic flung open the doors to the Spire Lab and she galloped out, leaving the echoes of little squeals in her wake.
Sunset stood there, staring at the spot where her friend had just been, trying to figure out what in Tartarus had just happened. Or more precisely, what she had just unleashed.
Then she glanced at the Spire. That could wait until after the holiday. Is wasn’t like they needed some sort of magical harmony beam to save the world right now, anyway.
Oh, by the way, nice job dodging her actual question a couple minutes ago about you and her.
“Oh shut up,” Sunset growled and then galloped after Twilight.